Jeannie Grubbs, PharmD, a retail pharmacist from Birmingham, Alabama, and John Grabenstein, RPh, PhD, of Merck, discuss embracing their enhanced role within the health care system and recognizing vaccination opportunities.

Moderator:
Concerning the information in this resource, keep in mind that laws and regulations regarding in-store pharmacy vaccinations, including which vaccines pharmacists are permitted to administer and prescription requirements, vary by state. Consult the appropriate resources, including the relevant state pharmacy boards, for more information.

Hello, I'm Robin Santiago, host of the Merck Adult Vaccination Program for Pharmacists. Thank you for joining us today for the first of many MAVP Talks.

I'm here today with your peer—Jeannie Grubbs—a PharmD all the way from Birmingham, Alabama. Hello, Jeannie.

Jeannie Grubbs: Hi!

Moderator: And along with Jeannie, I also have John Grabenstein—former director of the Military Vaccine Agency, author of the first edition of the APhA's curriculum for Pharmacy-Based Immunization Delivery, and also the current executive director of medical affairs for Merck Vaccines. Thank you again, John, for joining us.

John Grabenstein: Thanks, Robin, it's great to be here.

Moderator: Well as I'm sure you know, pharmacists are in the spotlight now more than ever before. And it's no surprise given their enhanced role within the health care system. So today, let's talk a little bit about various ways to embrace that enhanced role and recognize vaccination opportunities.

And speaking of vaccination opportunities—Jeannie, you were saying that both the fall and the summer seasons present great chances to talk to patients about different vaccines in your pharmacy.

Jeannie Grubbs: I discuss vaccines with my patients year-round, but I have found that the fall season presents a unique opportunity.

There's usually more activity in the pharmacy in the fall, so I'm able to talk to more people about vaccination.

Moderator: That's great, Jeannie. Identifying eligible patients can be easier than one might think. I've heard from other pharmacists that to help spark conversations with patients year-round, they have signs throughout the pharmacy asking questions like "Are you up-to-date on your adult vaccinations?"

Another tip is keeping track of certain age milestones. Pharmacists often open up conversations by saying to patients, "Oh, I see you've reached a significant birthday!"

Now, John, do you have any tips to help pharmacists identify patients?

John Grabenstein: Oh, definitely. It's about being proactive...

For instance, there are many vaccines that are recommended for patients of certain ages who are at risk. As a pharmacist, you have the ages of all your patients in their records. Being proactive can be as simple as alerting people to the vaccines that are recommended for them.

Jeannie Grubbs: Also, when patients are already planning to get a seasonal vaccine, I have found they're generally open to learning about other vaccines they may be eligible for.

Our pharmacy goal is anytime we have a patient in front of us getting vaccinated, we make an effort to think about other vaccines too.

Moderator: One visit—more than one vaccine? What a good idea. I wonder whether patients would prefer getting a flu shot along with any other recommended vaccinations since they're already there with their sleeve rolled up.

In your experience, Jeannie, how receptive are patients to the idea of getting more than one vaccine?

Jeannie Grubbs: They are usually very open to it. Patients often say, "You know what? I'm here. Why not get everything I need?"

Moderator: That makes a lot of sense. And—that must make the routine a little easier for pharmacists too.

Jeannie Grubbs: Oh, no question. Administering multiple vaccines can take virtually the same amount of time as just giving one vaccine. Patients only have to fill out the forms once, and pharmacists can efficiently bill for two vaccines, one immediately after the other. If it's possible, I've found that giving two vaccines at once can be much easier.

As long as the pharmacist has been fully educated about which vaccines can be administered during the same visit, it's an objective any pharmacy can adopt.

Moderator: And John, do you have any other tips to help pharmacists make vaccination a priority?

John Grabenstein: Communities have already embraced vaccination in the pharmacy. And there are simple, low labor ways to incorporate vaccination into your day-to-day routine. Use your computers' screening tools. Set up alerts to identify patients that are of the recommended ages for certain adult vaccinations.

Moderator: John, that's a very good point—I mean, as a pharmacist, you're juggling a lot. But it's still important to proactively approach patients and discuss vaccination. So, Jeannie, how do you tackle this in the summer?

Jeannie Grubbs: The summertime can be great, too, for different reasons. Patients tend to be more laid back in the summer, and pharmacies are less busy. So I can often spend more time talking to a patient if I need to.

We make a strong effort to talk about vaccination year-round, but it's really helpful to be aware of the seasonal impact and how to respond to that.

Moderator: Now do you make a point to routinely discuss the prospect of vaccination with potentially eligible walk-in patients too?

Whether it's related to vaccination, consulting, or counseling. We make an effort to really build a relationship with our patients.

John Grabenstein: And don't forget to investigate what your support staff can do. For starters, they can help you communicate the importance of vaccination by displaying signs, posters, brochures—even wearing buttons to serve as a visual cue to prompt patients to talk to the pharmacist about vaccination.

A few conversations every day are all it takes to get started. And then, keep up the momentum. Vaccination should be a year-round effort.

Moderator: Well, John, Jeannie, thank you both so much for joining us today. Always a pleasure to hear your tips for making the most of vaccination opportunities. And, I think I speak for everyone when I say that your passion for vaccination is contagious.

Jeannie Grubbs: Thanks. I find interacting with and vaccinating patients so rewarding. I think once a pharmacist starts to feel that reward, it just becomes something you love to do.

John Grabenstein: Oh absolutely. I mean most pharmacists got into this line of work because they truly care about people. The patients walking into their pharmacy—those are their people, their communities, their neighbors—they know them, they know their children, and they care deeply about them.

Moderator: Well said. Thanks again, and thank all of you out there for joining us for this session of MAVP Talks. Keep initiating those vaccination conversations and take advantage of coadministration opportunities. And remember, pharmacies that champion a proactive approach to vaccination have the power to make a difference in their community.